A federal judge has sentenced Former Louisville Metro Police Department Detective Brett Hankison to nearly three years in prison for using excessive force during the 2020 deadly Breonna Taylor raid, despite the Justice Department recommending that he not serve any time.
Hankison fired his weapon, but did not shoot anyone during the fatal raid.
Taylor was killed during a knock-and-announce drug raid on March 13, 2020, during which her boyfriend shot at police and they returned fire. LMPD Sgt. Jon Mattingly was shot during the exchange and has now recovered.
During the incident, Hankison fired ten shots through a window, though they are not the ones that struck Taylor. The officers who shot Taylor were not charged because they were returning fire as her boyfriend shot at them.
Hankison was the only officer on the scene who was charged in connection with the incident. The Justice Department argued that Hankison does not need to serve time as he is not a danger to the public.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings, appointed by President Donald Trump, stated that not giving him any prison time “is not appropriate” and sentenced him to 33 months behind bars and three years of supervised release.
BREAKING: Brett Hankison has been sentenced to 33 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for violating Breonna Taylor’s civil rights during the no-knock raid that ended her life. Hankison is the only officer convicted in connection with the raid that killed Breonna. pic.twitter.com/s6WBtHRcr5
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) July 21, 2025
Taylor’s family had urged the judge to ignore the recommendation and impose a harsher sentence. Lawyers representing the family called it an “insult” that sets a “dangerous precedent.”
Justice Department Says Former Officer Convicted Over Breonna Taylor’s Death During Raid Should Serve Just One Day in Jail
The lawyers added that the recommendation “sends the unmistakable message that white officers can violate the civil rights of Black Americans with near-total impunity.”
Taylor’s death led to riots in the streets during the height of the Black Lives Matter mayhem nationwide.
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